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The Letter To Normals:

Hello Family, Friends, and Anyone Wishing to Know Me,

Allow me to begin by thanking you for taking the time out of your day to spend some
time with me and get to know me better. A persons time is their most valuable asset
and yours is appreciated.

I want to talk to you about Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome
(MPS). Many have never heard of these conditions and for those who have, many are
misinformed. And because of this judgments are made that may not be correct So I ask
you to keep an open mind as I try to explain who I am and how FM/MPS has assaulted
not only my life but those whom I love as well.

You see, I suffer from a disease that you cannot see; a disease that there is no cure for
and that keeps the medical community baffled at how to treat and battle this demon,
whose attacks are relentless. My pain works silently, stealing my joy and replacing it
with tears. On the outside we look alike you and I; you wont see my scars as you
would a person who, say, had suffered a car accident. You wont see my pain in the
way you would a person undergoing chemo for cancer; however, my pain is just as
real and just as debilitating. And in many ways my pain may be more destructive
because people cant see it and do not understand....

Please don't get angry at my seemingly lack of interest in doing things; I punish myself
enough I assure you. My tears are shed many times when no one is around. My
embarrassment is covered by a joke or laughter, but inside I want to die....

Most of my "friends" are gone; even members of my own family have abandoned me. I
have been accused of "playing games" for anothers sympathy. I have been called
unreliable because I am forced to cancel plans I made at the last minute because the
burning and pain in my legs or arms is so intense I cannot put my clothes on and I am
left in my tears as I miss out on yet another activity I used to love and once participated
in with enthusiasm.

I feel like a child at times... Just the other day I put the sour cream I bought at the store
in the pantry, on the shelf, instead of in the refrigerator; by the time I noticed it, it had
spoiled. When I talk to people, many times I lose my train of thought in mid sentence or
forget the simplest word needed to explain or describe something. Please try to
understand how it feels to have another go behind me in my home to make sure the
stove is off after I cook an occasional meal. Please try to understand how it feels to
lose the laundry, only to find it in the stove instead of the dryer. As I try to maintain my
dignity the Demon assaults me at every turn. Please try to understand.

Sleep, when I do get some, is restless and I wake often because of the pain the sheets
have on my legs or because I twitch uncontrollably. I walk through many of my days
in a daze with the Fibro-fog laughing at me as I stumble and grasp for clarity.

And just because I can do a thing one day, that doesn't mean I will be able to do the
same thing the next day or next week. I may be able to take that walk after dinner on a
warm July evening; the next day or even the in the next hour I may not be able to walk
to the fridge to get a cold drink because my muscles have begun to cramp and lock up
or spasm uncontrollably. And there are those who say but you did that yesterday! What
is your problem today? The hurt I experience at those words scars me so deeply that I
have let my family down again; and still they don't understand.

On a brighter side I want you to know that I still have my sense of humor. If you take
the time to spend with me you will see that. I love to tell that joke to make another's
face light up and smile at my wit. I love my kids and grandbabies and shine when they
give me my hugs or ask me to fix their favorite toy. I am fun to be with if you will
spend the time with me on my own playing field; is this too much to ask? I love you
and want nothing more than to be a part of your life. And I have found that I can be a
strong friend in many ways. Do you have a dream? I am your friend, your supporter
and many times I will be the one to do the research for your latest project; many times
I will be your biggest fan and the world will know how proud I am at your
accomplishments and how honored I am to have you in my life.

So you see, you and I are not that much different. I too have hopes, dreams, goals and
this demon. Do you have an unseen demon that assaults you and no one else can see?
Have you had to fight a fight that crushes you and brings you to your knees? I will be
by your side, win or lose, I promise you that; I will be there in ways that I can. I will
give all I can as I can, I promise you that. But I have to do this thing my way. Please
understand that I am in such a fight myself and I know that I have little hope of a cure
or effective treatments, at least right now. Please understand.

Thank you for spending your time with me today. I hope we can work through this
thing, you and I. Please understand that I am just like you Please understand.


Copyright of www.fibrohugs.com Written by Ronald J. Waller
RjsWritingLoft.Com
"Letter to Normals"
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